Though she always seemed content with her life as matron mistress of the Academy, a position of no minor importance, it was widely accepted that Triel, the eldest daughter, would one day rule the first house.

For Quenthel had made no secret of her ambitions, which included the stepping stone as matron mistress of Arach-Tinilith, a position Triel had no intention of abandoning.

Rae-go si'n'ee calamay:' the matron mistress whispered, and red smoke poured from the brazier, colpring the room in a hazy glow.

Call to it;' the matron mistress instructed the naked stu- dent.

Else, why would the matron mistress of Arach-Tinilith be in this place?

The headmistress of all the Academy, the matron mistress, and the other twelve high priestesses serving as instructors of Arach-Tinilith, including Drizzt's sister, sat cross-legged in a circle around the brazier.

She shrugged off her robes and walked naked through the ring of sitting priestesses to stand before the flames, her back to the matron mistress.

"Glabrezu," the matron mistress moaned, and Drizzt recognized the tone as a summons, the name of a denizen of the lower planes.

He looked back to the events at hand and saw the matron mistress holding a single-tongued snake whip.

"Call to it," the matron mistress instructed the naked student.